Why a Walk Might Be Better Than Another Scroll

Let's be honest. Most of us have picked up our phones to "just quickly check something" and then somehow resurfaced 45 minutes later watching a video of a raccoon stealing cat food in another country.

The internet is a fascinating place.

Unfortunately, our minds don't always feel refreshed after spending time there.

When life feels stressful, overwhelming, or emotionally heavy, one of the simplest things we can do is something humans have been doing for thousands of years: go for a walk.

No app required.

No password.

No charging cable.

Just you, your feet, and hopefully weather that isn't trying to personally offend you.

Looking Up Instead of Looking Down

Have you ever noticed how many people walk around staring at their phones?

Sometimes it feels like the world's largest treasure hunt, except nobody knows what they're looking for.

When our heads are constantly down, we miss so much.

The blossom appearing on trees.

The changing colours of the seasons.

The neighbour's cat silently judging everyone from a windowsill.

The dog who is having the absolute best day of its life because it has found a stick approximately the size of a canoe.

These moments may seem small, but they can have a surprisingly positive impact on our wellbeing.

One of the most valuable mindfulness skills we can develop is the ability to notice.

Noticing doesn't require special training, incense, or the ability to sit cross legged for an hour without your foot going numb.

It's simply paying attention.

Notice the colour of the sky.

Notice the sound of birds.

Notice the shape of the clouds.

Notice the smell of fresh rain.

Notice that one house in the street that has somehow accumulated twelve garden gnomes and a life sized metal heron.

The more we notice, the more we bring ourselves into the present moment.

Walking: Mindfulness Without the Homework

When people hear the word "mindfulness," they sometimes imagine sitting perfectly still while achieving complete inner peace.

Many then spend five minutes trying not to think and immediately think about absolutely everything.

The shopping list.

That awkward conversation from 2017.

Whether penguins have knees.

Walking mindfulness is often much easier.

Instead of trying to stop thoughts, you simply notice them and gently return your attention to what's around you.

You become curious.

What can I see?

What can I hear?

What have I never noticed before?

The world suddenly becomes much more interesting when we're actually looking at it.

Walking Things Through After Therapy

Therapy sessions can sometimes leave us with a lot to think about.

You might leave feeling lighter.

You might leave feeling emotional.

You might leave wondering why your counsellor asked a question that seemed simple but has somehow occupied your brain for the rest of the afternoon.

That's completely normal.

Therapy often opens doors that have been closed for a long time. Sometimes we need a little space afterwards to sort through what we've found behind them.

A walk can provide exactly that space.

Without emails, notifications, meetings, or somebody asking what's for dinner, your mind has a chance to process.

Many people find that insights begin to emerge naturally during a walk.

Thoughts that felt tangled can become clearer.

Emotions can settle.

Connections suddenly appear.

It's as though your brain quietly says, "Ah, thank you. Finally a moment to organise all this."

Nature Doesn't Need to Impress You

One of the lovely things about walking is that it doesn't have to be dramatic.

You don't need to climb a mountain.

You don't need specialist hiking equipment.

You don't need to post a photograph proving you've been outdoors.

A stroll around the block counts.

A wander through a local park counts.

Even ten minutes can make a difference.

Nature is surprisingly generous in that way.

A tree doesn't care whether you've completed your to do list.

Birds don't expect you to answer emails.

Flowers aren't remotely interested in your productivity levels.

They're all just getting on with being trees, birds, and flowers.

There is something oddly comforting about that.

The Hidden Benefit of Walking

One thing many people notice is that walking often creates a little distance from whatever is troubling them.

The problem doesn't necessarily disappear.

The difficult situation may still be there when you get home.

But it can feel different.

Sometimes less overwhelming.

Sometimes more manageable.

Sometimes simply less loud.

Movement has a way of helping us shift emotionally as well as physically.

It's almost as if our thoughts appreciate not being trapped in the same chair all day.

A Gentle Challenge

The next time you go for a walk, try this:

Put your phone away.

Not forever. Nobody is suggesting anything quite that extreme.

Just for ten or fifteen minutes.

Then look around.

Can you spot five things you've never noticed before?

A colourful front door?

An unusual bird?

A hidden pathway?

A particularly enthusiastic squirrel?

The answer may surprise you.

After all, the world is doing interesting things all the time.

We just have to remember to look up long enough to see them.

And if nothing else, you'll probably encounter at least one dog who appears genuinely delighted to be alive.

There is something wonderfully therapeutic about that.